Joining Together Dear All Saints and St Marys"In Him the whole structure is held together". The words that we have from the passage in Ephesians this week speaks of Christ who binds people and brings them together. I have a strong image in my head of an adult holding the hands of two others, one either side. They are walking away from the viewer, so that only their backs can be seen as they set off into the distance. It could be the same image on a beach, or in a wood or down a busy high street. The adult in the centre holds the two together. They form the bridge. Through them the whole structure is held together. Similarly in the early church, the letters of the apostles speak plenteously about bringing together the Jews and the Gentiles. Accepting that the world has changed in the life of Jesus, that means that division of families, tribes and nations is now secondary to the way in which all people are called to God and asked to live. So that we are no longer aliens - but citizens with the saints. At St Marys we will have the honour of welcoming Maximus to the family of the church through his baptism. At All Saints there will be a celebration of Holy Communion. Both services help to remind us of ways in which we are united together. Held together. I look forward to being with you in worship.This Weekend's Services - Sunday 21st July10 am St Marys Church - Baptism with Hymns10.30 am All Saints - Holy Communion with HymnsThe week aheadWeds 24th 14.00 - Funeral of Mary Biddlecombe - St MarysThursday 25th 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’sSaturday 27th 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s Sunday 28th 8.00am - Holy Communion – All Saints 10:00am - Sung Holy Communion – St Marys10.30am - Cafe Church – All SaintsPlease pray for us all this coming week as we begin Holiday Bible Club 2024. It has been a year of work and planning and we are so looking forward to the children being with us and learning together about Gideon, Esther and Timothy. Gracious GodMay we know the love that you extend to the world, may our footsteps be in rhythm with yours, may you guide us into your ways and may we humbly be your servants to all whom we meet. AmenRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery
Dear Sisters and Brothers in ChristIt certainly feels like we are in times of great change and uncertainty. The use and abuse of power is forefront in the world around us. Politically , there is an ongoing process of change, with new governments in the UK and France, and the seemingly endless lead up to the American elections. Power is being abused in aggressive and militaristic ways. The ongoing conflicts across the globe are testaments to how humanity is so often its worst enemy.The account of the fate of John the Baptist that we will explore on Sunday is a chance to reconsider the nature of power and how it is enacted-the contrast between transitory earthly power and eternal divine power.John the Baptist and Jesus have considerable parallels. John is the one who steps aside, but he is essential, the last Old Testament prophet proclaiming the one who will transform everything. Did these cousins knew each other well? Did Jesus come to be baptised by John as a result of that ongoing relationship? At this moment of divine meeting when John baptises Jesus, the parallels start to diverge. Jesus is now the centre of attention.What of John? We do not hear directly from him again, but we hear of him. He has upset those in power and been imprisoned because of it. We hear of the power of his words, but not the words themselves. In the ultimate fulfilment of those parallel lives, John will be executed by someone in power in a way set to humiliate and devalue on the pretext of vows and demands of others, ultimately killed seemingly as the result of a drunken vow made at a party. The story of John’s execution is either too bizarre and dramatic to give credence to or is utterly plausible because it is so peculiar. Certainly, any vow made by those with power would have to be honoured as this was an essential part of the structure of society at the time. Today to us it feels ludicrous, but we have to be wary of making these judgements via the lenses of modern thought.Could it be the kernel of truth-i.e. the imprisonment and death of John has been embroidered with this narrative to serve later purposes? It certainly could be. What is telling is that both in this story and that of Jesus, the narrative seeks to draw responsibility for the actions away from the man in power an onto others-the crowd with Jesus, Herodias and her daughter with John. It’s like the critique of power is there but is being defused by keeping the actual men in power blameless.Whatever the dynamics, the actual power and the perceived power are significant contrasts, and John’s story is a foreshadowing of Jesus’.Meditating on these reassures us when the actuality of the world around us becomes overwhelming. The real power and authority in this world is one of love and grace that is alongside those who seem to be powerless. God has turned the perceived order of the world on its head.Services and Notices for week beginning: 14th July 20247th Sunday after Trinity8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints10:00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s10:30am – Muddy Church and Junior Church Celebration – All Saints18.30pm – Generations Summer Party – The VicarageThe week aheadMonday 15th July: 10:30am - Tiny Tots - All SaintsTuesday 16th July: 10:30am – Music for toddlers - St. Mary’sWednesday 17th July 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsThursday 18th July: 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’sFriday 19th July: 11:00am – Living After Loss – St. Mary’s Saturday 20th July: 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’sSunday 21st July:10:00am – Sung Service of the Word – St. Mary’s10:30am – Holy Communion – All SaintsMay the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. AmenBlessingsRevd Kester de Oliveira
A Sunlight of HopeDear FriendsAs we woke up on the dawn after election day with a new Prime Minister, Sir Keir spoke about a 'sunlight of hope' emerging from the shadows and he restated his focus on public service. Tim Farron, a Christian and Lib Dem MP speaks of politics as a 'mucky business' . He encourages us both to get involved in local life and pray for our MPs because the commitment to improving life for those who struggle is a noble but complex and demanding project. Sir Ed Davey falling off a paddleboard and getting on it again was a good illustration of that.Jesus came that 'they might have life to the full'. Here in Fishponds at All Saints and St.Mary's churches the core of our faith is to see lives flourish. Our new MP Damien Egan has already popped in to meet people from the wider community at St.Mary's weekly Saturday Lunch and we look forward to regular contact, so that people can make their views and needs known for making Fishponds not just 'quite nice' but a 'very good' place to live across all ages. We pray for MP Damien and for all local community leaders, faith leaders and support networks.Why not come along and join in our Sunday and midweek worship.Everyone is always welcome.Don't miss the Special Events on Saturday 6th July!All Saints 10 am to 12 noon: Coffee Morning and Repair CafeA special welcome to the local Fishponds LGBT+ Meetup group who we're helping to create their banner for Pride. Come along and have a look.St Marys 11am to 2pm: Summer FairEveryone loves a fair! What's not to like: cake, the raffle and tombola, the white elephant stall and books to browse - plus refreshments. Come along and bring your friends.Services This Sunday 7th July 2024St Marys 10.00 am: Creative ChurchAll Saints 10.30 am: Holy Communion with Band and Junior ChurchSt Marys 6.30 pm:EvensongThe Week AheadMon 8 July 10.30 am All Saints: Tiny TotsTue 9 July 10.30 am St Marys: Music for Todlers Summer Party!Wed 10 July 9.00 am All Saints: Celtic Morning PrayersThurs 11 July 10.00 am St Marys: Holy CommunionSat 12 July 12 noon 2pm St Marys: Saturday LunchesServices Next Sunday 14th July 2024All Saints 08.00 am: Holy Communion (spoken)St Marys 10.00 am: Sung Holy CommunionAll Saints 10.30 am Messy Muddy Church and Junior Church Celebration!Vicarage 7.15 pm Generations YP Summer Party! As we pray for all in Fishponds and work with our new MPs, a poem by Ian Adams encourages us to trust that life can get better, when we look at it through the lens of resurrection hope.See Resurrection in Everything - by Ian AdamsResurrection is not only a future hope.It happens now.Vibrant and inextinguishableAnd small signs of resurrection are everywhere.In the street where you live.In imaginative design.In the patient turning of the seasons.In courageous movements for justice,And in the daily acts of devotion that so many will offer to God and neighbour today.The invitation is to see resurrection.To allow the resurrection to seep into your life.To embody resurrection.So that you live resurrection life now.Go in Peace to Love and Serve the LordIn the name of Christ - in Fishponds and beyond.Revd Diane (curate)
Dear All Saints and St MarysThis weekend is often called Petertide - a name which is given to a season in the church when we celebrate the Feast of St Peter and St Paul. It is also one time in the churches season when we come together to celebrate with all those who have been called to be ordained in the church. As a benefice we will have to wait a little bit longer to be part of those particular celebrations together with our own curate Revd Kester. We continue to keep him very much in our prayers as he recovers his health. Our readings on Sunday remind us that we are all called to be worshippers on earth and in heaven and join with the words we hear in the Issiah reading, that cry "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts". These words form part of our Eucharistic prayers each week, a great thanksgiving that invites us all to praise God. Holy is a brilliant word, it combines both awe and wonder, with a sense of humility before God our Creator. It is a 4 letter word that speaks of being called to something precious, special and sacred. "Holy" is to be fully whole as people, an invitation to be truly ourselves as we find we are wrapped up in God's great big story and life. This weekend we gather as God's holy people, to worship the Almighty and be drawn into God's presence which embraces both Heaven and Earth. We will do this in our worship together as churches at the 10.30am Benefice service at All Saints. As a blessing we welcome the preaching ministry of Revd Robert Cotton, and it will be a delight on this ordination anniversary for many of us, that we will celebrate that same Eucharistic Prayer. Join us for our worship, as we join with God in Heaven and on Earth.Our Services this weekend - Sunday 30th June 20248am - BCP Holy Communion - All Saints10.30am - Sung Holy Communion Benefice Service - All Saints6.30pm - Said Evening Prayer - St MarysThe week aheadTuesday 2nd July 10:30am – M4TWeds 3rd July 9:00am - Celtic Morning Prayer – All SaintsThursday 4th July 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’sFriday 5th July 11:00am – Living After Loss – St. Mary’sSaturday 6th July 10:00am - Coffee Morning and Book Sale with Bristol Repair Café – All Saints11.00 – 2:00pm – Summer Fair - St Mary’sNext SundaySunday 7th July 10:00am – Creative Church – St Marys10:30am – Holy Communion and Junior Church – All Saints6:30pm – Evensong – St. MaryHoly, Holy Holy LordGod of power and mightHeaven and Earth are full of your gloryHosanna in the Highest. AmenRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, FishpondsInterim Co Area Dean Bristol City Deanery